Potential solutions? Well, I have none, but I have maybe a first step. I can perhaps do the following, let's start out with the bad ideas:
- I can test the line to see if it leaks. The line looks like crap, and it's really a bad idea to leave it in there. But the thought did cross my mind for a brief moment. I thought that maybe this fuel hose was some metal hose that was just rubber coated, but it's not. This is a bad idea.
- I thought about some how running a new line from somewhere more accessible, but then I would have to plug the old line (which is old and seems damaged), so that defeats the whole purpose too.
- I could simply not use one tank if one line is leaking and the other is fine. That is also a poor plan.
These ideas are better:
- Cut / disconnect the fuel hose on each side and then thread some pipe cleaner in there to see if I can feel where the line goes. Perhaps I can make it stick out into the tank so that i can confirm the location of the outlet hole. This would be done prior to poking any holes in the chassis.
- I can poke an exploratory hole in the fender well. Somewhere in this area:
I think that this is going to have to be the best option, and I will have to make a *ton* of measurements (like a surveyor) in order to figure out exactly where my hole should be drilled. It's too bad I don't have an ultrasound machine or some type of x-ray machine that could see through wood. I do have a "stud finder" for walls, but I don't see how that could possible be useful. I also have a stud finder magnet that is ultra powerful and can find metal through walls - maybe I will grab that from work and try that out - there might be a hose clamp that is right on the other side of the wood that the magnet will hang on to.
I suppose that if I make an "access panel" to get to the bottom of the tank, I can then reinforce it with steel. My big concern is cutting a hole in the wood chassis and weakening it a bit.
- I can try to cut the fuel line very close to where it enters the "bulkhead", then shove it in there and then stick my camera in there to see if I can see anything. This would screw me in case I needed to somehow thread that line back again, but I don't really see that happening.
I'm so glad that the tanks have already been replaced. At least we don't have to cut the entire car apart. I will send this post to the son of the guy who replaced these tanks - he's like 87 or so years old now, and may or may not remember this from 40 years ago. That's like me remembering what I got for Christmas when I was 8 - probably not going to happen. I'll also send this to the guys in the UK for advice.
Okay, I'm ready for some help and advice on this - I'm stuck. Thanks in advance!!!
-Wayne